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Official Vows Netherlands to Enter
EMU Debate With an Open Mind

By

Martin Du Bois Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal

Updated Jan. 16, 1998 12:01 a.m. ET

Amid growing speculation that the Netherlands is opposed to Italy joining European economic and monetary union from the outset, Dutch Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm vowed that his country will enter the debate on EMU membership with an open mind.

In a letter to Parliament to deny rumors that he would resign if Italy were allowed to join EMU on Jan. 1, Mr. Zalm said the government didn't have an opinion yet on who should and who shouldn't be part of the European Union's common-currency club. But he signaled that the...